Obituary

Sharlyn Turner

April 23, 1968 - January 30, 2018

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018 Sharlyn Turner left this world with the same grace and beauty that she lived. She passed away in her home under the loving care of her husband, Bill; and daughter, Helen. Sharlyn was born April 23, 1968 to Harlan and Barbara Warner and attended Okanogan High School in Okanogan, Wash. There, she began dating her classmate, Bill Turner. They began, as Sharlyn put it, “an easy love” that would hold them both and inspire many throughout the next 33 years. Sharlyn and Bill both attended Seattle Pacific University, with Sharlyn earning a degree in accounting in 1990. Sharlyn’s professional abilities, drive, and passion for her work resulted in a fulfilling career in Public Accounting. She joined Peterson Sullivan in 1995 where she became a partner in 2006. Sharlyn took pride in her relationships and collaboration with her co-workers and was dedicated to providing the best service possible to her clients. Helen was born on July 4, 2000 and filled Sharlyn’s and Bill’s lives with joy and an even bigger love. They were an inseparable family, experiencing many beautiful adventures together, including many trips to visit their loving extended families and to their summer cabin in Conconully, Wash. They always held one another through the many changes life brings. Their biggest challenge came when Sharlyn was diagnosed with breast cancer. They bravely faced this journey together as Sharlyn sought treatment that would aggressively combat the cancer, but preserve her quality of life that she held as paramount. Sharlyn’s mostly private challenge occurred as she continued to live by her own standards – continuing her love for running with her running group, working full-time, leading the Seattle Waldorf School board, and making time for vacations and adventures with her loving family. Sharlyn’s health took a sudden decline in early January 2018. She experienced a short hospitalization over the weekend of January 18th where she learned that the cancer had spread aggressively throughout her body. Sharlyn explored treatment options, but held true to her heart in ultimately choosing to spend her final days not in a hospital, but at home with the support of Hospice and her immediate and extended family that she cherished. She lived her life with kindness, strength, conviction, and a never-ending courage. Sharlyn’s gracious presence, infectious laugh, and beautiful smile will stay with all of us long after her departure. In addition to Bill and Helen, Sharlyn is survived by her parents, Barbara and Harlan Warner; and her brother and sister-in-law, Barry and Janet Warner, who will miss her deeply.